Chéri

After the smashing success of "The Queen", director Stephen Frears reunites with writer Christopher Hampton and Michelle Pfeiffer with whom he did the excellent "Dangerous Liaisons." Superbly written and brilliantly acted, this lavish adaptation is set in the turn of the last century Paris as it was called the "Belle Epoque" which was amongst others the golden age of prostitution where the so called courtesans were the stars of society by having the rich and noble as clients. Michelle Pfeiffer plays the notorious beauty Lea de Lonval who's retiring from her profession but realizing never to have experienced real love. When a former colleague and rival asks her for help with her spoiled son whom Lea has nicknamed Cheri, Lea falls for the young man and fulfilling her last wish. The scenes with Pfeiffer and the amazing Kathy Bates are outstanding but the film belongs to Michelle Pfeiffer who gives her best performance in a decade or so that hopefully will lead to more of the great actress who has been doing too much mediocre work in order to stay near her family. Frears a master at his craft makes another splendid film. YRCinema's coverage of current releases.